How old to ride on snowmobile trails in WI?
- Thread starter XTEAM
- Start date
firefighter1
Member
When my daughter and son took it in Minnesota there was an online portion that was mentioned above that was required before the actual class. Then the class day was about four hours with a written and drivers test.
WorkHardPlayHrd
Active member
Snowmobile course in Wisconsin is not online. Is still required training course with an actual instructor. My youngest two will both take the course this year. Boating is allowed online ATVs allowed online but not snowmobile. Made our daughter wait until she was 13 because I wasn't running two kids in two separate years so she had to wait for her brother to turn 12. At least this year I won't have to drive 35 miles to take the kids to the training course. Contact your regional DNR office to find the locations of the courses nearest you.
You will sign a piece of paper that says even though the DNR teaches the course, it is at the parent or guardian's discretion as to whether or not the child is actually qualified to ride on the trails. The course is basically just a these are the rules course. The reason for the piece of paper, and the reason there is no longer a behind the handlebars course in Wisconsin is because about 6 years ago a young lady was taking the behind the handlebars part of the course and the throttle stuck on the sled. The sled with a 12 year old girl went from 0 to 70 before hitting the brick face on the school the course was being taught at. The young lady lost her life. So they will require you to sign the piece of paper in order to waive the instructor and the Department of Natural Resources from any fault if something happens after your child takes the course and you allow them on the trail.
The things that no course can teach your child. How to make the Split Second decision in an ugly situation as to whether or not to stay on the sled or to jump. Safe sledding.
You will sign a piece of paper that says even though the DNR teaches the course, it is at the parent or guardian's discretion as to whether or not the child is actually qualified to ride on the trails. The course is basically just a these are the rules course. The reason for the piece of paper, and the reason there is no longer a behind the handlebars course in Wisconsin is because about 6 years ago a young lady was taking the behind the handlebars part of the course and the throttle stuck on the sled. The sled with a 12 year old girl went from 0 to 70 before hitting the brick face on the school the course was being taught at. The young lady lost her life. So they will require you to sign the piece of paper in order to waive the instructor and the Department of Natural Resources from any fault if something happens after your child takes the course and you allow them on the trail.
The things that no course can teach your child. How to make the Split Second decision in an ugly situation as to whether or not to stay on the sled or to jump. Safe sledding.
WI DNR recognizes the online class certification.
See online course on the bottom:
https://dnr.wi.gov/education/outdoorskills/safetyeducation.html
They have links to both sites:
https://www.snowmobilecourse.com/usa/wisconsin/
https://www.snowmobile-ed.com/wisconsin/
See online course on the bottom:
https://dnr.wi.gov/education/outdoorskills/safetyeducation.html
They have links to both sites:
https://www.snowmobilecourse.com/usa/wisconsin/
https://www.snowmobile-ed.com/wisconsin/
yes. For 16 year olds and up.
Good catch!
WorkHardPlayHrd
Active member
That's right sorry I forgot that loophole. 16 with a valid driver's license. Then you can do online. I don't think my 12 year old would be very happy with me if I made him wait 4 more years to trail ride on his own.
lofsfire
Active member
My oldest turn 12 last year and he took his safety course. One question I had was, do you need to take a different safety course for each state? The outcome of this was no. We're Indiana residents, he took a Michigan course and he was good for Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan. I don't know about any other states, but it sounds as if you have the certification from at least one state you're good.
We were pulled over in Wisconsin to check trail passes. and no they were not on our sleds only because we bought them online and they hadn't shipped yet. The cops were great, and we're happy to see he had everything in order. That was only his second trip riding on his own and he did very good!
We were pulled over in Wisconsin to check trail passes. and no they were not on our sleds only because we bought them online and they hadn't shipped yet. The cops were great, and we're happy to see he had everything in order. That was only his second trip riding on his own and he did very good!